Oligodendrocytes regulate presynaptic properties and neurotransmission through BDNF signaling in the mouse brainstem.

Neuron-glia communication contributes to the fine-tuning of synaptic functions. Oligodendrocytes near synapses detect and respond to neuronal activity, but their role in synapse development and plasticity remains largely unexplored. We show that oligodendrocytes modulate neurotransmitter release at presynaptic terminals through secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

The Edible Insect Protects against Gut-Derived Inflammatory Responses and Liver Damage in Mice after Acute Alcohol Exposure.

Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to excess alcohol exposure is a major cause of gut barrier disruption and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic inflammation, as well as liver steatosis and apoptosis. This study was designed to investigate protective effects of the cricket , an edible insect recognized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration, against acute alcoholic liver damage in mice. Administration of extracts (GBE) attenuated alcohol-induced steatosis and apoptotic responses in the liver and intestinal permeability to bacterial endotoxin.

Enhanced production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid from glucose and xylose by alleviation of metabolic congestion due to glycerol flux in engineered Escherichia coli.

Among platform chemicals obtained from renewable biomass, 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) has attracted considerable attention. A GC/TOF-MS study revealed that the intracellular metabolites of the TCA cycle and fatty acid synthesis increased in JHS01302, a galP-overexpressing strain of Escherichia coli, during glucose and xylose co-fermentation. Decreased intracellular glycerol levels and increased intracellular biosynthesis of 3-HP were also detected in the strain.

Ameliorative effect of black ginseng extract against oxidative stress-induced cellular damages in mouse hepatocytes.

Background: Oxidative stress induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play important causative roles in various pathological conditions. Black ginseng (BG), a type of steam-processed ginseng, has drawn significant attention due to its biological activity, and is more potent than white ginseng (WG) or red ginseng (RG).

Methods: We evaluated the protective effects of BG extract (BGE) against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage, in comparison with WG extract (WGE) and RG extract (RGE) in a cell culture model.

ABC Classification Is Less Useful for Older Koreans Born before 1960.

Background/aims: In the ABC classification system, group A consists of seronegative subjects without gastric corpus atrophy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pseudo group A subjects.

Methods: Group A subjects were identified among consecutive Korean adults who underwent a serum anti- immunoglobulin G (IgG) test and pepsinogen (PG) assay on the day of endoscopy.

Trochanteric area reconstruction with free flap using perforators as recipients: An alternative and effective option.

Background: Reconstructing soft tissue defect on the trochanteric area is challenging. Due to the significant complications associated with regional flap, free tissue transfer is an appropriate option. However, this area has poor recipient vessels.

Le Fort partial colpocleisis as an effective treatment option for advanced apical prolapse in elderly women.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of women with advanced apical prolapse who were treated with the obliterative LeFort partial colpocleisis (LFC) procedure.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent LFC for advanced apical prolapse. We collected data for baseline patient characteristics, co-morbidities, severity of prolapse, operating time, intraoperative injuries, and postoperative complications.

Correction to: Lifespan-extending property of 6-shogaol from Zingiber officinale Roscoe in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The author would like to include conflict of interest statement of the online published article. The correct conflict of interest statement should read as: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Mechanical Properties and Sulfate Resistance of High Volume Fly Ash Cement Mortars with Air-Cooled Slag as Fine Aggregate and Polypropylene Fibers.

The depletion of natural sand and production of the huge amount of cement in the construction industry are serious threats to the environment, which can be reduced by the utilization of by-products as cement replacement material. In this study, cement was replaced with fly ash up to 45% (by weight). In addition, the natural fine aggregate was replaced with air-cooled blast furnace slag aggregate (here referred to as "slag aggregate") at a level of 50% and 100% (by weight).

siRNA-Conjugated Nanoparticles to Treat Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth-most lethal cancer among women due to a lack of early detection and late-stage treatment options, and it is responsible for more than 14,000 deaths each year in the United States. Recently, there have been advances in RNA interference therapy, specifically with small interfering RNA (siRNA), to reduce tumor burden for ovarian cancer via gene down-regulation. However, delivery of siRNA poses its own challenges, as siRNA is unstable in circulation, is unable to be effectively internalized by cells, and may cause toxicity in off-target sites.

Atrial fibrillation occurring during head-up tilt testing: Once detected, atrial fibrillation should be monitored, regardless of how it is detected.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often progresses to more sustained forms and increases the risk of ischemic stroke or sinus node dysfunction. However, there have been no data on the clinical outcomes of patients who developed AF during head-up tilt testing (HUT).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of AF detected during HUT performed for syncope evaluation.

Quality of Anticoagulation and Treatment Satisfaction in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Vitamin K Antagonist: Result from the KORean Atrial Fibrillation Investigation II.

Background: Vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to prevent thromboembolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients has limitations such as drug interaction. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of Korean patients treated with VKA for stroke prevention and assessed quality of VKA therapy and treatment satisfaction.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional study.

IKZF2 Drives Leukemia Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Inhibits Myeloid Differentiation.

Leukemias exhibit a dysregulated developmental program mediated through both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Although IKZF2 is expressed in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), we found that it is dispensable for mouse and human HSC function. In contrast to its role as a tumor suppressor in hypodiploid B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we found that IKZF2 is required for myeloid leukemia.

Surgical Outcomes of Thalamic Tumors in Children: The Importance of Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Neuro-Navigation and Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring.

Background: Recently, modern technology such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neuro-navigation and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) have been actively adopted for the treatment of thalamic tumors. We evaluated surgical outcomes and efficacy of the aforementioned technologies for the treatment of pediatric thalamic tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 37 children with thalamic tumors between 2004 and 2017.

The Advantage of Common Femoral Endarterectomy Alone or Combined with Endovascular Treatment.

Purpose: Although common femoral artery endarterectomy (CFAE) is regarded as the standard treatment modality for common femoral artery (CFA) disease, availability of advanced endovascular techniques has resulted in an increased number of CFA disease being treated. We evaluated clinical outcomes in a contemporary series of patients who were treated for CFA disease using endarterectomy alone or combined with endovascular treatment.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients from November 2001 through December 2007.

Supported liquid extraction coupled to gas chromatography-selective mass spectrometric scan modes for serum steroid profiling.

Although, steroid profiling is being applied in clinical and biochemical studies, improvement of the technique is still needed for accurate quantification of steroids in case of limited biological sample volumes. To improve analytical sensitivity and selectivity in comparison to that of conventional methods, a method that comprises supported liquid extraction (SLE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with a combination of selected-reaction and selected-ion monitoring modes (GC-SRM/SIM-MS) was developed. Here, this combination of SLE purification with GC-MS method was optimized with 37 different types of steroids and the results were compared to a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method.

Effects of Orally-Administered subsp. Strain BB12 on Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) constitute barrier surfaces and play a critical role in maintaining gut health. Dysregulated immune responses and destruction of IECs disrupt intestinal balance.

Changes in thoracic cavity dimensions of pectus excavatum patients following Nuss procedure.

Background: Using a simple and intuitive method, we evaluated changes in the dimensions of the thoracic cavity of pectus excavatum (PE) patients following the Nuss procedure.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 141 patients who had undergone the Nuss procedure. The thoracic cavity was visualized using computed tomography (CT) scans and its dimensions determined by measuring the anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (T) diameters at three anatomical landmarks (the jugular notch, and manubriosternal and xiphisternal joints).

Decellularized sciatic nerve matrix as a biodegradable conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration.

The use of autologous nerve grafts remains the gold standard for treating nerve defects, but current nerve repair techniques are limited by donor tissue availability and morbidity associated with tissue loss. Recently, the use of conduits in nerve injury repair, made possible by tissue engineering, has shown therapeutic potential. We manufactured a biodegradable, collagen-based nerve conduit containing decellularized sciatic nerve matrix and compared this with a silicone conduit for peripheral nerve regeneration using a rat model.

Evaluation of Healing After Medial Meniscal Root Repair Using Second-Look Arthroscopy, Clinical, and Radiological Criteria.

Background: Previous studies have reported various healing rates (0%-100%) as evaluated by second-look arthroscopy after repair of medial meniscal root tears (MMRTs). Such variable results might provoke suspicion of the necessity for repair. Furthermore, the effect of meniscal healing on the clinical outcomes has not been reported.

Rhabdomyolysis revisited: Detailed analysis of magnetic resonance imaging findings and their correlation with peripheral neuropathy.

The objective is to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in rhabdomyolysis in detail and determine their correlation with the development of peripheral neuropathy.Magnetic resonance images for 23 patients with confirmed rhabdomyolysis with (n = 11) or without (n = 12) peripheral neuropathy were retrospectively reviewed for the signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images, intramuscular hemorrhage, enhancement pattern, shape and margin in the longitudinal plane, edema in the deep fascia and overlying subcutaneous layer, multiplicity, and bilateral limb involvement. The collected data were statistically analyzed and the relationship between the imaging findings and the development of peripheral neuropathy was determined.

The C-terminal region of ATG101 bridges ULK1 and PtdIns3K complex in autophagy initiation.

The initiation of macroautophagy/autophagy is tightly regulated by the upstream ULK1 kinase complex, which affects many downstream factors including the PtdIns3K complex. The phosphorylation of the right position at the right time on downstream molecules is governed by proper complex formation. One component of the ULK1 complex, ATG101, known as an accessory protein, is a stabilizer of ATG13 in cells.

Boron nitride nanotubes: synthesis and applications.

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) has similar tubular nanostructure as carbon nanotube (CNT) in which boron and nitrogen atoms arranged in a hexagonal network. Owing to the unique atomic structure, BNNT has numerous excellent intrinsic properties such as superior mechanical strength , high thermal conductivity, electrically insulating behavior, piezoelectric property, neutron shielding capability, and oxidation resistance. Since BNNT was first synthesized in 1995, developing efficient BNNT production route has been a significant issue due to low yield and poor quality in comparison with CNT, thus limiting its practical uses.